Ehud Barak
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is expected to discuss forging an agreement with Syria that will “burst apart the sense of threat on both sides, do away with fear and suspicion, and burn out terror,” according to an official in the prime minister’s office. These optimistic words, I predict, will fade away in a cloud of mistrust. When all this overly lovey-dovey talk goes on, I am greatly suspicious. Israel must not enter into a giveaway of the Golan or Mt. Hermon outposts until Iraq, Iran and Libya have declared that they no longer want to see the demise of Israel. If Syria really wants peace, it should be willing to give up “land for this peace.”
Barak could try, if U.S. pressure mounts too high, to demand a 100-year lease on the Golan Heights and Mt. Hermon similar to Great Britain’s Hong Kong lease, or try a lease like the Guantanamo Bay deal the U.S. made with Cuba. This could make good sense, before Israel accedes to withdrawal on the good intentions and promises of dictators.
NORMAN E. MANN
San Diego
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Re the proposed Syria and Israel peace pact: It would be the best way to start the 21st century.
TED MINTER
Long Beach
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